Community Forums

osok · 09-24-2017, 01:59 PM

Last August Newmar repaired the problem under warranty and said it was entry from rain through a wheel well. Never drove again in rain until this summer while on a three month trip. Again after driving in rain I have water leaking from underbelly of coach. I have appointment in Nappanee in October for repair but they are saying this time it will be at my expense due to out of warranty.

Has anyone had this issue and where was the water entry area?

ptw · 09-24-2017, 04:46 PM

I had water coming into the water bay above the water bay heater and there was water around the water tank when I drove in a very heavy rain storm. On the 2017 there is a hydraulic line for the slide that goes through the wheel well. They put that split black flexible conduit over the hydraulic line. They seal the outside of conduit where it goes into the basement. I think the water was going into the split in the conduit and following the hydraulic line inside. I put silicone sealant inside the conduit near the entrance to the basement and it seemed to take care of the problem.

When I was in Nappannee I had them check to see where the water was leaking into the basement. They took my water tanks out and they said the water was coming in around the frame. They sealed around the frame and also sealed the hydraulic line better. That was a big job taking out the plumbing and tanks. They also added a splash shield in the wheel well so the water would stay away from the frame.

I am not sure but think it was both the frame and the hydraulic line leaking. I was still under warranty but they should work with you on this problem.

osok · 09-24-2017, 05:48 PM

Thanks ptw - Paul

I will check the hose to see if it could be allowing entry. Your pic looks like the area that was repaired under TSB 442 a few months before Newmar Techs tried their repair. The dual wheel wells I have caulked frame that I can reach with tires still on coach. Also in the dual wheel wells I sprayed Flex Seal where I could. Just did not stop entry.

Glad they and you located and sealed proper areas to stop water entry. I will remember to ask them to install wheel well liners.

ptw · 09-24-2017, 06:27 PM

The splash shield they installed was just a flat piece of black plastic? mounted to stop the water from getting into the area above the frame. I'd take a picture but it is cold, dark and rainy out there right now.

To seal the conduit I put the coach on jacks and blocks and crawled in behind the wheel. It was tight. Newmar took the wheels off.

wagonmaster2 · 09-24-2017, 08:40 PM

ON my 2015 DS 4018 looking up under the front fenders there is a metal brace about 1 1/2" by 3" that runs from fender to fender. Above each tire there is what looks like a 3/8"-7/16" bolt with a nut on it for what appears to be the seat belt attachment.

Any way, when it rains I find water dripping out the end of this brace down on each front tire. The brace is welded to an angle iron piece that runs front to back of the coach so the water drips very slow since the weld is not completely around the brace. After watching this water drip for 2 weeks I drilled a 1/4" hole in each end of the brace and got almost a 1/3 gallon of water out of one end since the coach was very slightly tipped to that side.

Called Newmar and asked just where the water could be coming from inside that brace and told "never heard of anything like that and don't think it could be happening". Sometimes I think Newmar thinks all us coach owners are dummies and only know were the fuel goes in.

Anyone else notice any water dripping down on the front tires from under the front fenders after a rain? I've checked and resealed every possible crack I can find on the roof and sprayed water on both sides of the coach from a garden hose but cannot duplicate this water drip.

osok · 09-25-2017, 07:56 AM

Wagonmaster2, thanks for the information and I will give that area a more detailed look.

millerj · 09-25-2017, 08:33 AM

osok Newmar told me the same thing on my refrigerator door lock. They worked on it under warranty but didn't fix it so when I took it back again and it was out of warranty they said I would have to pay for it. I explained that this was not right since if they would have done the repair correctly the first time I wouldn't need to be back for the same problem. They agreed to not charge for the repair the second time around.

"007" · 09-25-2017, 11:55 AM

Thanks for the answers folks,

I am sure this will show up again another add to PROBLEM SOLVERS in QT's # 3.

GaryKD · 09-25-2017, 02:46 PM

I am surprised the Flex Seal did not work. I wire brushed all joints and spaces in the wheel wells (rear 2). Sprayed Flex Seal generously over all the joints and gaps. Bought all the Flex Seal in the Nappenee, Elkhart area. Took 3 days (drying time). Did 3 coats. Then had Newmar install wheel well liners. They were made for 04 but not for 05 coaches. Everything has been dry ever since (about 2 years).

osok · 09-25-2017, 09:13 PM

GaryKD, thanks for sharing how you solved your problem. Perhaps purchasing many cans of Flex Seal and spraying everything is the answer. Area I sprayed was inside drive wheel well but only the forward area.

GaryKD · 09-26-2017, 05:40 AM

Hi osok,
For me the solution was a combination of Flex Seal and the wheel well liners. Installation of the wheel well liners is very important. They stop the force of the water from beating on the wheel well joints and spaces. Behind the wheel well liners will get wet. However, the water will just be gravity dropping to the ground. If there are no wheel well liners water will beat up on the Flex Seal. Not sure how long that would last.

wagonmaster2 · 09-26-2017, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osok

Wagonmaster2, thanks for the information and I will give that area a more detailed look.

If anyone ever discovers where water could be getting into that 3" cross-member brace between the two fenders be sure to send me a special PM. I've looked back from under the front hood, back/forth under both fenders, and up under the front end, but no where else is there any water.
Newmar says it can't happen, but it's there after every rain even if I'm not driving
My next trip through southern Missouri any where's close to my dealer I'm going to have them look under the fenders then have them call Newmar to tell them it's wet there whether it can be or not.

JMH · 09-26-2017, 09:37 PM

Had a similar issue. Took our coach to the factory. What they discovered is that the drains under the FWS (there is a channel there) were draining into the cross members and spilling out into the “belly” and draining at any frame cross member. We had water dripping out the frame at any low point. The underbelly would pool the water for days until we were on a steep enough incline/decline to dump the water.

Our tech put pvc pipe attached to the drain holes to the bottom of the coach. Seems to have corrected that problem.

We had a leak into the peg board bay on our ventana we though was the same issue. Turned out the water was coming from the wheel well and a poorly sealed door. Both issues were fixed at the factory.

Now if we can fix the mystery leak up front we’re finally sealed up

Mark and Louene Hetrick
Newbee the last VTDP 3725

osok · 09-27-2017, 06:36 AM

Millerj-Jack, that is what I hope will happen in this case but I am going with the understanding that it is not a warranty issue. After they find the leak just maybe they will understand that it has been an ongoing issue that was not corrected at first attempt.